Vice-Admiral, United States, from the Naval Flags series (N17) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes Brands
ca. 1888
Medium
Commercial color lithograph
Dimensions
Sheet: 2 3/4 x 1 1/2 in. (7 x 3.8 cm)
Classification
Prints|Ephemera
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jefferson R. Burdick Collection, Gift of Jefferson R. Burdick
Accession Number
63.350.201.17.45
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of 19th American advertising with *Vice-Admiral, United States*, a charming chromolithograph from Allen & Ginter's Naval Flags series (N17 Produced around 1888 this tiny card—measuring just 2¾ x 1½ inches—was tucked into packs of their popular cigarettes, sparking a collecting craze among enthusiasts. Allen & Ginter, pioneering tobacco magnates, used these inserts to blend patriotism with promotion, showcasing U.S. naval ensigns like the distinctive Vice-Admiral flag. The artwork exemplifies commercial color lithography, a breakthrough technique that allowed mass p...
About the Artist
Allen & Ginter
Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...